Irish Dunlop Tournament Winners, History

The Irish Dunlop Tournament was a golf tournament on the Irish professional circuit, played over five decades from the 1930s into the 1980s. Most of the Irish golf stars of the day are among its roster of champions.

First played: 1933

Last played: 1980

Although a regional tournament (as opposed to being part of a major world tour such as the European Tour), as part of the Irish PGA circuit, the Irish Dunlop Tournament was open to golfers from outside of Ireland, too. But only one non-Irish golfer ever won it. Englishman Peter Townsend took the trophy in 1977.

The tournament rotated to golf courses around Ireland, usually to a different course each year. It was a 72-hole, stroke-play tournament for all but one year (it was match play in 1947).

The list of champions below includes top Irish stars such as Fred Daly, Harry Bradshaw, Hugh Boyle, Eamonn Darcy and Des Smyth. The biggest name of all from the tournament's era was Christy O'Connor Sr., who tallied the most wins in the event, seven. Christy O'Connor Jr., the nephew of Senior, won it once.

Smyth set tournament records in the final year with his winning score of 261 and 16-stroke margin of victory.

Winners of the Irish Dunlop Tournament

1980 — Des Smyth, 261
1979 — David Jones, 284
1978 — David Jones, 279
1977 — Peter Townsend, 276
1976 — Eamonn Darcy, 275
1975 — Eddie Polland, 277
1974 — Christy O'Connor Jr., 284
1973 — Eddie Polland, 283
1972 — John O'Leary, 280
1971 — Jimmy Kinsella, 279
1970 — Hugh Boyle, 277
1969 — Michael Murphy, 284
1968 — Hugh Jackson, 279
1967 — Christy O'Connor Sr., 275
1966 — Christy O'Connor Sr., 265
1965 — Christy O'Connor Sr., 288
1964 — Christy Greene, 276
1963 — Nicky Lynch, 279
1962 — Christy O'Connor Sr., 276
1961 — Nicky Lynch, 278
1960 — (tie) Christy O'Connor Sr., Jimmy Kinsella, 271
1959 — Norman Drew, 284
1958 — (tie) Harry Bradshaw, Norman Drew, 288
1957 — (tie) Jimmy Henderson, Willie Gaffney, 283
1956 — Fred Daly, 276
1955 — Christy O'Connor Sr., 268
1954 — Fred Daly, 270
1953 — Christy O'Connor Sr., 278
1952 — Fred Daly, 273
1951 — Harry Bradshaw, 274
1950 — Harry Bradshaw, 282
1948-49 — Not played
1947 — John McKenna, 6 and 5
1946 — Fred Daly, 288
1938-45 — Not played
1937 — John McKenna, 288
1936 — Paddy Mahon, 298
1935 — Pat O'Connor, 290
1934 — Willie Nolan, 283
1933 — (tie) Willie Nolan, Pat O'Connor, 291

Also known as: Its first five years the tournament title was in a different order. It was called the "Dunlop-Irish" Tournament.